# San Ignacio long weekend from San Sebastián: getaways for 31 July Getaways from San Sebastián for 31 July, San Ignacio de Loyola, a holiday only in Gipuzkoa: Gavarnie and Ordesa free of snow, canyons at Aínsa and Llanes before August. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/san-sebastian/getaways/san-ignacio-long-weekend · Revisado: 2026-11-13 Origen: San Sebastián - [A weekend in Gavarnie, the other side of Ordesa, 3 hours from San Sebastián](https://www.geocalia.com/en/france/cirque-de-gavarnie/itineraries/weekend-cirque-and-waterfall.md) (2 nights, Cirque de Gavarnie): From June to September the path to the cirque at Gavarnie is free of snow and the restaurant opposite the waterfall and the village hotels are open. At the end of July the days are long for Troumouse and Estaubé. It is three hours by car: with 31 July next to the weekend, two nights work out. - [A weekend in Ordesa, 1 h 20 from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ordesa-valley/itineraries/ordesa-weekend-torla-from-huesca.md) (2 nights, Ordesa Valley): In summer you only go up to the Pradera de Ordesa on the Torla bus, from 6:00, and the valley has a limit of 1,800 people. 31 July is a working day in Aragon, so if the holiday falls midweek the valley is somewhat less crowded than at weekends. - [A weekend in Llanes and the eastern Asturian coast, an hour from Santander](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/asturias/llanes/itineraries/llanes-eastern-asturian-coast-weekend.md) (2 nights, Llanes): July and August are the months of Llanes's bando festivals: La Magdalena, at the end of July, and San Roque, in mid-August. Kayaking between coves depends on the sea: book and let the company set the time. At the end of July, book the hotel weeks ahead too. - [A weekend in Aínsa: Añisclo, a canyon descent and the square at dusk, an hour and a half from Huesca](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/aragon/ainsa-and-sobrarbe/itineraries/ainsa-anisclo-canyoning-weekend.md) (2 nights, Aínsa and the Sobrarbe): The end of July is high season for canyons at Guara, with warm water and flow for jumps. Book the guide before the long weekend. Añisclo, first thing, still has shade at the bottom of the canyon, and at night the Plaza Mayor in Aínsa stays cool. - [Gaztelugatxe, Mundaka and the Casa de Juntas](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/urdaibai/itineraries/sunday-at-gaztelugatxe-and-mundaka.md) (Day itinerary, Urdaibai): 31 July is not a holiday in Bizkaia, but it is high summer: the climb to Gaztelugatxe usually has controlled access with a free ticket, booked on the provincial council website. Go up in the first slot and leave Laida beach for the afternoon. - [Hondarribia: old town, the Marina and Jaizkibel](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/hondarribia/itineraries/walls-ferry-and-jaizkibel.md) (Day itinerary, Hondarribia): In summer the motor boat crosses to Hendaye until late and the boat that tours Jaizkibel by sea goes out on the days in its calendar. It is the plan for those who prefer not to drive more than half an hour on San Ignacio day, with a bay beach for small children. - [Getaria: museum, the Ratón and grill](https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/basque-country/getaria-and-zarautz/itineraries/balenciaga-raton-and-harbour-grill.md) (Day itinerary, Getaria and Zarautz): The Balenciaga museum opens daily in summer and is the refuge for the sunniest hour; then grilled fish above the harbour and an afternoon at Zarautz beach. As the 31st is a holiday across Gipuzkoa, park in Getaria before eleven. ## A holiday that only Gipuzkoa has 31 July, San Ignacio de Loyola, is a holiday across the territory of Gipuzkoa, and only there: in Bizkaia, Álava, Navarre or France it is a working day. When it falls on a Friday or Monday it makes a three-day long weekend; when it falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, four for those who can take the day in between. When it falls on a weekend, it is lost. For someone leaving San Sebastián, that has an advantage: if the holiday falls midweek, you travel when the rest of the country is working. Destinations outside Gipuzkoa have that day the crowd of any summer day, not that of a long weekend. ## The high mountains, at their best The end of July is the best time in the central Pyrenees. The cirque of Gavarnie, three hours away, has the path to the waterfall free of snow, the cirque restaurant open and long days to link up with Troumouse and Estaubé. On the other side of the rock wall, Ordesa is toured with the Torla bus, which in summer is the only way up to the Pradera. At both places the key is the hour: set out first thing, in the shade, and be back before the afternoon storms, which in the summer Pyrenees are frequent. ## Canyons and gorges If someone in the group wants water and adrenaline, Aínsa is the base. At the end of July the Guara canyons are in high season, with warm water and pools to jump into, always with a guide. The Añisclo canyon, half an hour away, is better walked first thing, when the bottom still has shade. ## The Asturian coast, before August To the west, Llanes is a little over three hours away and at the end of July is living its summer of bando festivals. There are more people than in June or September, but fewer than in the week of August. Kayaking between coves and caves goes out if the sea allows, and the blowholes, which blow little in summer, can be seen just the same from the cliff. ## Without leaving the province Anyone who does not want the road has the coast half an hour away. In Hondarribia, the motor boat to Hendaye and the boat along Jaizkibel; in Getaria, the Balenciaga museum and Zarautz beach. Mind you, since it is a holiday across Gipuzkoa, the province's beaches fill as on an August Sunday. In Azpeitia, beside the Loyola sanctuary, 31 July is the saint's main festival: if you are interested, it is another day plan, about forty minutes away. ## On horseback to the cirque Gavarnie has a wide path to the cirque and part of it can be done on a donkey or horse with the village's rentals. In Ordesa, the Estrecho and Arripas waterfalls are less than an hour from the Pradera. Hondarribia beach, inside the bay, has hardly any waves. And in Aínsa, the guided canyons have beginner versions: ask the minimum age. ## High season at every destination The end of July is high season at all these destinations. Book first the hotels in Gavarnie, Torla and Llanes, the guided canyons and the Gaztelugatxe ticket. In Ordesa the bus is not booked, but the valley closes ascents when it reaches its limit. ## Roads Towards Gavarnie, the exit via Pau and Lourdes is the most direct, and the last mountain stretch is slow behind motorhomes. Towards Asturias, the A-8 via Bilbao gets heavy on the last day in the afternoon. And if you come back from France on the 31st, remember that it is a working day there: no holiday jam, just that of any summer afternoon. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Is 31 July a holiday in San Sebastián? Yes: San Ignacio de Loyola is a holiday across the territory of Gipuzkoa. In Bizkaia, Navarre or France it is a working day. ### Can you drive up to Ordesa in late July? No: in summer you go up on the shuttle bus from Torla. The car park is free and the return ticket costs €6. ### Does Gavarnie have snow in July? The path to the cirque is free of snow from June to September. There may be snow high on the walls, but it does not hinder the walk. ### Do I have to book Gaztelugatxe? In summer there are usually controlled-access days, with a free ticket on the Bizkaia provincial council website. Check before going.